FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
Esther 2:15-17
Proverbs 21:2-3

"Trust and obey
for there’s no other way."

DOES THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS?

It was Esther’s one-night-stand date with the king. Esther had the favour of everyone who set eyes upon her, and King Ahasuerus loved and favoured Esther more than all the others. He crowned her his new queen. Perhaps you may think that if Esther did not participate in all these, she would not have become queen, and would not have been in a position to save the Jews later. And so, this fact alone should "justify" these sins. Does the end justify the means? Of course not! Some contend that slaves like Mordecai and Esther had no choice. But Christians always have a choice. It is a matter of whether we are willing to bear the consequences of the choice and trust God. Did not slave Joseph run out of Potiphar’s house from Mrs Potiphar? Esther was in a less difficult situation than Joseph, because she was not part of the palace household yet.It is interesting that at this point God brought up the name of Mordecai’s uncle (Esther’s father), Abihail. His Jewish name means my "father is might." It was as if to remind the reader that both Mordecai and Esther needed not have sinned because God was Mighty to deliver, regardless of the situation.

Situational ethics and pragmatism have crept into many believers’ thinking and living. It is the belief in the philosophy that whether our choices or actions are right or wrong depends on the situation. There are no absolutes, except what "good" results from the action. "Good" depends upon benefit to self or others. This means that one cannot enter a situation with the absolute moral law of the Ten Commandments as his reference standard to decide what is right or wrong. Instead, one is to do what is pragmatic. Christians must never subscribe to such ideas but must always do what is right biblically and trust in the Almighty God for the results. God can deliver the Jews without Esther and Mordecai breaking His laws. The Jews were delivered not because of their sin, but God did use them in spite of their sin.

THOUGHT: Have I made ungodly choices because I "have no choice"?
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to obey Thee and trust the outcome to Thee.

Posted in Adult RPG